Chapter 50 - Shift in the Budget

Next Morning, as Guard Commander Chan woke up, he heard a knock on his door right after.

Being a Guard Commander he had higher privileges, meaning he had a room of his own in the castle.

Not small either. It was ten meters across and five meters wide.

It's a very big room compared to what ordinary Guards get.

Which is a choice to either sleep in a bundle of other Guards or pick to sleep alone in a small room three meters wide and across.

Either choice has benefits and disadvantages.

If a Guard was to sleep in a bundle, he or she would lack personal privacy but food would be free and they wouldn't have to pay rent. Every expense would be covered by the King.

Getting a small private room, would no doubt have benefits when it comes to privacy, but as you might have guessed, the Guard would no doubt need to pay for food and rent.

Which is affordable, being a Guard who is an ill.u.s.tratio which is a high position compared to what other races have a status of.

Because in most cases, only the ill.u.s.tratio get to be Guards or any status higher.

Each ill.u.s.tratio Guard gets one Hundred Gold coins per month as a salary, food for a month would generally cost forty Gold coins and the rent costs twenty. Leaving forty coins to spend or save.

But the Guards who sleep in Bundles, get to save or spend all one Hundred Gold coins.

Chan, being a Guard Commander doesn't need to pay for food or rent at all. Apart from that, he gets two Hundred and fifty Gold coins each month. The only position higher than that is being a War General or the King's personal assistant. He reached a lot already as a twenty five year old.

However, as he heard a knock on his door, he right away granted permission to come in.

Entering the room was indeed the King's Personal assistant. A well educated, swift, smart and no doubt an overachiever.

"Aaron my old friend. I'm guessing the King sent you here. Is that list ready?"

Said Guard Commander Chan with a friendly tone.

"Indeed. I wanted to give you a warm welcome with some refreshing beer yesterday but you hit the bed right away.

Now you are headed to Pameres Kingdom. The King is really pleased with your progress."

"Pleased? He would of beheaded me if i didn't have that overgrown freak's heart."

"It is true that the King doesn't show much human emotion, but i've been working for him ever since i was sixteen. I didn't have to climb ladders, as the King greatly values academic skill. However, the King shows that he is pleased simply by not Killing you. Giving you more tasks is also a sign of satisfaction."

Aaron and Chan were practically grown together. They have the same age and have a long history together. Sharing a deeper understanding they helped each other up through the toughest times. Their toughest time was of course growing up as Orphans. Which in this long lasting War is common to see.

"I suppose you are right, old friend. But i feel there is a bigger reason behind the King's choices.

I mean there are Guards far more powerful and skilled than I am right now. Yet he chose me to complete a task for him that could lead to world domination.

He could have picked someone greater."

"The King sees greater purpose in you. He likely didn't want to see you waste away as a Guard Commander. He picked you to do a task that even he would think twice about. You should be nothing but happy for that.

He wants you to progress academically as well."

"Oh so he wasn't fooling around about the ten books? How am i supposed to memorize ten books. I was illiterate until I was eighteen."

"He wasn't fooling around at all. Did you ever see the King fool around? A horse and ten Guards are waiting for you near the Kingdom's main Gate.

The Guards are carrying the list you need, your books, a map, food and water. I'm sure you'll do well with the books, they are short. There is no shame in learning.

It will take two weeks to reach Pameres Kingdom. So don't lose any of the Guards this time."

"You and the King are both having a good time complaining about those Elite Archers.

Only one of those beasts was able to crush several elite archers like bugs. Arrows were like a wasp sting to them."

"It's understandable. All of you were under informed, Under prepared and lacked enough troops. I mean practically nothing can stop lava but a Witch or Wizard themselves.

Now go."

As Guard Commander Chan made his way down the Main Gate, Aaron headed towards the King's Throne room, holding a different list the King requested for shortly after Eric's last visit.

After Eric caused Havoc, Killing literally hundreds, Aaron had to get into detail about the Guards, Workers or just any random passerby who have been massacred by his outburst.

Knowing such numerical detail would of course show the King what measures to take.

"Sire. I got the list you asked for. It took me three days and I barely slept. But i completed it."

Aaron being the King Most trusted Worker and practically the second in command, he is almost considered a friend to the cold hearted King who threatens to behead if tasks aren't completed. And he doesn't behead with a blade either.

Meaning, he asked Aaron to not bend the knee anymore.

"Good… A bit to late, but it is understandable. It is not easy to go through five... hundred houses, asking for exact detail.

I hope you bring news... that aren't too sour."

"My King. Unfortunately the losses were considerably big. The outburst that Kid had killed five hundred and thirty two Permanent residents and four hundred and seven Imported Guards or Workers.

Not to mention the houses or businesses destroyed. This will be a great shift in your budget."

"That Child… Killed Over nine hundred people with… his outburst. But now if he faced above one hundred... he would fail miserably.

Luck... was by his side when he had his outburst in my Kingdom.

Next time, he won't... be as lucky.